This Diwali go green, opt for healthy sweets

Diwali is a festival of joy, lights and sweets but while celebrating it, it’s important to prioritise health and take care of the environment too.

The Health Department has issued some guidelines to help you enjoy a safe, healthy and eco-friendly Diwali.

Dr Pradeep Kumar Mohindra, Civil Surgeon, Ludhiana, issuing a health advisory for Diwali, said city residents should celebrate a green Diwali and say no to crackers.

“Fireworks pollute the air and pose risks for people with respiratory issues such as asthma, cough and breathing difficulties. Choose an eco-friendly “Green Diwali” by lighting clay lamps, decorating your home traditionally, and minimising pollution. If you must use fireworks, choose only “green crackers,” which produce less smoke and noise,” he said.

District Health Officer Amarjeet Kaur further advised people to opt for healthy sweets and avoid artificially coloured sweets. The Health Department recently seized spurious khoya from many places in the city.

“Brightly coloured sweets, sometimes dyed with chemicals, can harm health. These colours, usually synthetic and high in sugar, can cause digestive issues. Medical research links such dyes to serious health issues such as blood disorders and allergies. Enjoy simple, healthy, homemade sweets such as jaggery barfi, dry fruit laddoos and traditional treats,” she said.

“Smoke from fireworks significantly degrades air quality, posing risks especially to children, the elderly, and those with respiratory conditions. If you go outside, wear a mask and protect your family from smoke exposure, as pollution can lead to new health issues, particularly for those with stress or allergies,” she said.

Plant trees around your home and use earthen lamps for decoration. Traditional lighting, instead of bulbs, saves energy and protects the environment. It is our shared responsibility to maintain a safe environment so future generations can also enjoy a joyful festivals.

Take care of your health

Watch your diet during Diwali. Avoid oily, fried foods and sugary sweets. Such items can adversely affect the health, so choose healthier options and enjoy a safe festival.

Simple tests to detect adulteration

Ghee: Take one spoon of ghee and add an equal amount of hydrochloric acid and add some sugar to it. Shake it for one minute. The presence of vanaspati can be detected if the base of the acid shows dark red colour.

Milk: Put a drop of milk on polished vertical surface. The drop of milk either stops or flows slowly leaving a white trail behind it. If it contains water, it will flow down fast without leaving any mark. Add a few drops of iodine to milk. The presence of blue colour confirms it is adulterated with starch.

Khoya: Boil the sample with some water. Cool it and add a tincture of iodine to it. If blue colour appears, it means the Khoya sample has starch.

Vark: Just rub the silver foil on your hand by your thumb. If it’s aluminium, it will stick to your hand. If it’s pure, then nothing will remain.